Bangkok Rocked By Extended Clashes

Fresh violence has broken out today after last night's clashes
and snipering of a key general backing the Thai red shirt
protesters.

The BBC's reporter on the ground, @aleithead, reports live
rounds being fired by soldiers at protesters. The area in
question is quite close to the U.S. embassy on wireless road.
UPDATE: Alastair has qualified earlier comments, now says that
live rounds he saw fired weren't directly at protesters.

Troops are also reported by the red shirt's media team to be
advancing from another side, the 'Pratunam side', of the
encampment.

UPDATE: Reuters has reported that a foreign journalist, believed
to be from France 24, has been shot multiple times and is in
serious condition according to France 24, freelance television
correspondent Aela
Callan reports continued loud gunfire and explosions on
Wireless Road.

UPDATE: As of 2:47pm local time, the situation may have eased
back. Still it could get very ugly especially as there is
potential for red shirt supporters to emerge both in other parts
of Bangkok and in other provinces.

Behind a barricade of rubber tires and bamboo sticks on one
street next to the park, one of about six scattered around the
area, about three dozen protesters wore helmets and facemasks.
Scores of small bottles filled with gas lay next to the
barricades.

“I’m not scared of dying,” said Sorn Omsakul, 34, from
northeastern Thailand, dressed in black from head to toe. “We’ve
been ready to fight for many days.”

UPDATE @ 4PM: New clashes reported between protesters and
security forces, this time on the opposite side (Pratunam) from
where today's earlier clashes were (Lumpini) according to
Khun Pleum. Also,
check out these stunning Reuters pics from the
frontline of today's Bangkok clashes.